Petrol pump operators threaten strike on 23rd April 2012 Petrol Strike

April 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Petrol pump operators today threatened to go on a one-day strike on April 23 demanding a hike in commission they get on fuel sales.

“It has been decided that all petrol pumps of public sector oil marketing companies in the country shall ob

serve one day protest closure in the first instance from midnight of April 22-23 till the midnight of April 23-24,” Federation of All India Petroleum Traders (FAIPT) General Secretary Ajay Bansal said here.

Further, FAIPT, which claims to represent dealers of over 40,000 petrol pumps in the country, will go on an indefinite strike from midnight of April 29-30, if their demands are not met.

He said the oil ministry has not implemented recommendation of its own committee that was constituted to go into the issue of commission paid to dealers.

The committee headed by Joint Secretary (Marketing) in Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had recommended a dealer commission of 0.39 paise per litre on petrol and 0.17 paise a litre on diesel. But the ministry gave only 0.27 paise for petrol and 0.15 paise for diesel.

“Our demand for 5% commission on the invoice value of petroleum products has been turned down by the committee without any proper reason,” he said.

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CBI launches a drive to unearth adulteration of several items

May 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a nationwide drive to check adulteration of petroleum products, kerosene and medicines.

Talking to reporters here, Ashwani Kumar, Director of CBI, said: “This time we have kept our focus upon economic offences, which is further divided into two types of economic offences, the first being adulteration of petroleum products and the second is adulteration of medicines. The public is directly connected to both these which is the reason why we have chosen these two areas.”

Harsh Bhal, spokesperson of CBI said that the results of the surprise checkups at several petrol pumps revealed quite startling facts.

“All the zones of CBI conducted special drives in their respective zones. The joint surprise checks were conducted alone with officials of all public sector undertakings to check the adulteration of petroleum products,” he added.

He further said that during the surprise checks conducted at manufacturers of medicines and shops selling these numerous malpractices came to light.

“During surprise checks, it was found that the spurious medicines are being supplied to the CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) and government hospitals. It was also found at many places that spurious medicines especially Ayurvedic medicines are being manufactured without license from the competent authority. It was also found that expired medicines are being supplied to various dispensaries and government hospitals,” added Bhal.

The CBI has taken up this coordinated drive since there were numerous complaints of rampant corruption in different parts of the country. (ANI)

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Petrol pump owners intensify struggle for uniform VAT rates for diesel

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 20 (ANI): The Delhi Petrol Dealers” Association staged a peaceful demonstration here on Thursday over its demand for uniformity in Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel in Delhi and adjoining states.

Around 100 dealers took part in the protest and marched towards Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit”s residence with a bouquet of flowers.

“All these years, our VAT rates have always remained equal as of Haryana. So, we have only one demand that our VAT rates should remain equal now also. If in future, diesel rates in Haryana increase even to 30 rupees, we don”t mind the same rates,” said Jugal Batra, a former DPDA president.

The dealers placed the flowers outside Dikshit”s residence, while Batra went inside to discuss the problem.

After the meeting, Batra said Dikshit had assured him that she would look into the issue after consulting Finance Ministers of neighbouring states and representatives of the VAT committee.

“We will take some time to work it out,” he added.

On April 9, petrol station owners had called off their strike after Dikshit assured that their grievances would be addressed within 15 days.

Delhi has announced an increase in VAT on diesel from 12.5 percent to 20 percent. The sale of diesel has gone down by more than 40 percent, forcing both motorists and truck drivers to head for petrol pumps in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Noida because of the price difference.

It has been reported that the diesel has become cheaper by Rs 3.50-4 in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The price of diesel in Haryana is Rs 34.22, whereas in New Delhi, it is Rs 38.10. (ANI)

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Delhi petrol pumps owners protest VAT hike, observe shutdown

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 14 (ANI): Petrol pumps in Delhi are observing a 24-hour shutdown in protest against the hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel by the Delhi Government on Friday.

Over 400 petrol pumps in Delhi are said to have downed their shutters.

Pump owners say oil sales have gone down by over 40 percent since the price hike.

“Diesel sales have reduced by 50 percent in June 2008 and have reduced by another 40 percent this year. This has made it unviable to run several petrol pumps. There are 20,000 families dependent on us and its becoming tough to even give out salaries,” said Atul Peshawaria, president, Delhi Petrol Dealers Association.

Peshawaria added that the association has sent repeated representations to the government but to no avail.

“We don”t want to inconvenience the people. But there seems to be no other way out. The government is completely unwilling to listen to us. If the sales have dropped so much, how can the government make more money on taxes?” Peshawaria questioned.

In Haryana, the price of diesel has been cut by Rs 3.88 where as in UP it will be cut by 68 paisa.

A litre of diesel costs Rs 34.75 in Haryana, as against Rs 38.10 in Delhi.

Pump owners said that due to hike in VAT, the motorists are choosing Noida, Faridabad or Guragaon which are under the NCR, to get a fill.

On April 9, the pump owners had called off their strike, following the assurance of Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit that their grievances will be addressed within 15 days.

Meanwhile, autorickshaw unions are also planning an indefinite strike from May 17 demanding to increase in minimum fare. (ANI)

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More than 2000 petrol pumps to come up in 2009

July 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 9 (ANI): Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Jatin Prasad, today informed the Lok Sabha that the 2,263 petrol pumps would be set up during the current financial year by the Indian Oil, the Bharat Petroleum and the Hindustan Petroleum.

Prasad told the members that at present Indian Oil Corp (IOC) the largest number of petrol pumps at 18,140 while the Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) has 8,539 and the Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) has 8,389 petrol pumps in the country.

Of the 35,068 petrol pumps owned by the state-run companies, the maximum 4,262 are in Uttar Pradesh followed by Tamil Nadu with 2,962, Andhra Pradesh has 2,921 Punjab has 2,652 petrol pumps, Rajasthan 2,343 and Karnataka has 2,260 pertrol pumps, Prasad informed the house.

Replying to a separate question, Prasad said three firms have expressed their willingness to set up to set up 14 more liquid petroleum gas (LPG) bottling plants in the country.

As on April 1, 2009, the three firms were operating 182 LPG bottling plants with a total bottling capacity of 8.9 million tonnes per annum. Of the new bottling plants, four will come up in Maharashtra, two each in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and one each in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka. (ANI)

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More than 2000 petrol pumps to come up in 2009

July 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 9 (ANI): Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Jatin Prasad, today informed the Lok Sabha that the 2,263 petrol pumps would be set up during the current financial year by the Indian Oil, the Bharat Petroleum and the Hindustan Petroleum.

Prasad told the members that at present Indian Oil Corp (IOC) the largest number of petrol pumps at 18,140 while the Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) has 8,539 and the Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) has 8,389 petrol pumps in the country.

Of the 35,068 petrol pumps owned by the state-run companies, the maximum 4,262 are in Uttar Pradesh followed by Tamil Nadu with 2,962, Andhra Pradesh has 2,921 Punjab has 2,652 petrol pumps, Rajasthan 2,343 and Karnataka has 2,260 pertrol pumps, Prasad informed the house.

Replying to a separate question, Prasad said three firms have expressed their willingness to set up to set up 14 more liquid petroleum gas (LPG) bottling plants in the country.

As on April 1, 2009, the three firms were operating 182 LPG bottling plants with a total bottling capacity of 8.9 million tonnes per annum. Of the new bottling plants, four will come up in Maharashtra, two each in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and one each in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka. (ANI)

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IOC seeks 50:50 partnership in RIL’s petrol pumps

March 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

IOC seeks 50:50 partnership in RIL's petrol pumps State-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has proposed a 50:50 partnership to operate 1432 closed petrol pumps of Reliance Industries (RIL), having 15 per cent fuel market share by the closing date of March 2008.

Other firms including Royal Dutch Shell, Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) have also shown interest in partnership with Reliance.

The private firm suffered huge losses in early 2008 due to difference in retail price of petrol and diesel sold by public sector oil companies and other private firms leading to closure of RIL’s petrol pumps.

Meanwhile, a senior official of IOC said, “We would not like to comment.” He, however, said that company has already got approval from its board and final decision would be taken after weighing all pro and cons.

RIL will set up a data room to access financial proposals of interested parties and final decision would be taken by firm’s chairman, Mukesh Ambani.

Sources informed that IOC, having 17600 petrol pumps, wants equal partnership as it is not interested in portfolio investment while RIL wants 26, 50 and 74 per cent equity stake from retailers in the proposed joint venture.

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Govt. awards gas stations to families of martyrs in Mumbai terror attacks

February 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Feb 1, (ANI): The Centre on Sunday allocated gas stations and petrol pumps to the relatives of the security personnel who sacrificed their lives during the Mumbai terror attack.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on this occasion in Mumbai lauded the supreme sacrifice made by the police and saluted them for their braveness.

“The way the terror attacks took place was unimaginable. It was a war like situation. But these police officers and army personnel risked their lives without thinking about their families. They sacrificed their lives for the love of their country,” Ashok Chavan said.

Some of the slain officials’ relatives were awarded petrol pumps while others were allotted cooking gas distribution centres.

Maruti Kamte, father of Ashok Kamte, the additional commissioner of Mumbai police who was killed in the terror attack, was also present on the special function.

Kamte said he was proud of his son who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

“I feel very great because my son has got it. He has already been decorated three times for his bravery. This is his fourth award,” the proud father Maruti Kamte said. (ANI)

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